Tubing swab



Marcl'l 16, 1954 s, P HAMER 2,6?2383 TUBING SWAB Filed Sept. 6, 1949 r IIIIIIIIIII/ AM P #AM/ZZ INVENTOR.

,/v ,4 rToeA/EY Patented Mar. 16, 1954 Sam P. Hamer, FortWorth, Tex. Application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,227

This invention relates to oil production equipment, and it has particular reference to tubing swabs or expansible rubbers therefor, and its principal object resides in the provision of a swabbing rubber which is at once more eifective 3 claims. (o1. 309-23) The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3 and comprises a cylindrical sleeve IQ of rubber, or other suitable materials, the bore II of which is adapted to be than the conventional type, being amenable to the well iiuids in operation and thus capable ofv providingr a greater seal within the tubing in which it is operated, and possessing greater durability than the conventional type of swab rubber.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a swab rubber formed with a plurality of cups or cavities in its operative face whereby the iiuid pressures above the swab, in counteraction against the movement thereof to the earths surface in the tubing, serves to expand the rubber against the inner walls of the tubing and produce a greater suction on the uids below.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a well swab which can be economically constructed and insure greater enieiency in operation than swab rubbers of conventional design.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional illustration of one form of the invention, taken on lines I-l of Figure 2, showing the manner in which the longitudinal cavities are formed there- 1n.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, illustrating a plurality of longitudinal fluid cavities formed about the axis of the rubber.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal crossseetion of the invention as applied in a string of tubing, shown fragmentarily, and indicating by arrows, the iiow of fluids into the cavities.

Figure 4 is another form of the invention, shown in longitudinal section on lines 4--4 of Figure 6, illustrating a plurality of circumferential grooves on which lips are formed to provide expansibility under fluid pressures, and illustrating a series of wire stays partially embedded in the circumferential surface of the rubber.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the modified form of the invention, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and

Figure 7 fragmentarily illustrates a swab assembly in which the form of the invention shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is embodied.

received by a mandrel I2, in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, and secured thereonby retainingmembers I3 and I 4 having flared skirtportions I5 and I6 which are engageable with bevelled upper and lower surfaces Il and I8 of the member I0.

Arranged about the bore II of the member I0 is a series of spaced axial recesses or cavities I9, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, which function to receive the well fluids under pressure, as the invention is drawn upwardly in the tubing 20, to cause the outer walls of the member I0 to expand in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, the iiuids passing through registering apertures 2| arranged about the skirt I5 of the upper retaining member I3, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3. It will be noted that the skirt portion I5 of the member I3 extends outwardly a suiiicient distance to engage the outer perimeters of the bevelled surface Il of the member I0 and thus retain the same firmly while the side surfaces of the member I0 engage the inner surface of the tubing 20, and allowing the engaging surfaces of the member I0 to liberally expand to effect a seal within the tubing 20.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and is shown applied to a swab in Figure '7. In this structure a rubber 22 is formed with a bore 23 to receive a mandrel 24 shown in Figure '7. A circumferential groove 25 is formed in the outer surface of the member 22 and spaced longitudinally thereof. The grooves are inclined downwardly and inwardly so that a circumferential lip 25 is formed on each, as illustrated in Figure 4, whereby well uids are trapped in the groove 25 to force the lips outwardly against the inner surface of the tubing 20, as the assembly is drawn upwardly in the well, and thus insure a more effective seal and a maximum of suction in the well tubing below the assembly. A plurality of longitudinally arranged wire stays 21 are spaced about the circumference of the mem- -ber 22 and are partially embedded therein, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 6. The stays 2'I are turned at an angle on each end to conform to the bevelled surfaces 28 and 29 on each end of the member 22 and have their extreme ends formed at right angles and embedded in the member 22, as illustrated in Figure 4. This arrangement will prevent damage to the lips 26 of the grooves 25 and aiford a more durable structure.

The member 22 is retained on the mandrel 24 by retaining sleeves 30 and 3l whose iiared skirts 32 and 33 conformably embrace the bevelled surfaces 28 and 29 at the end of the member 22, much in the same manner as the members I3 and I4 are employed to secure the rubber l0 on the mandrel l2, as illustrated in Figure 3.

It is obvious that the invention is subject to certain changes and modiicationa by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tubing swab for an oil Well having a mandrel adapted to be operated on a cable in a string of tubing in said well,. a swab rubber sleeve detachably secured on said mandrel and formed with a plurality of spaced cavities longitudinally about and parallel to the axis of said sleeve in its operative face receiving fluid pressures in said tubing whereby to expand said rubber in said tubing in its upward movement therethrough.

2. In a tubing swab having a mandrel Supported with a cable in an oil well tubing. a swab rubber on said mandrel formed with a plurality of fluid cavities surrounding and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rubber and open to the operative face thereof, the said cavities being rubber, a plurality of spaced cavities formed in the operative face of said rubber surrounding and parallel to the axis thereof providing for expan- Sionthereof against the inner walls of said tubing under iiuid pressures, and openings in said retaining elements admitting well uids to said cavities.

SAM P. HAMER.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNXTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,584,713v Bisloee.r et ai May 18, 1925 1,552,744 Sorensen Dec. 13, 1927 1,983,523 Crowell Dec. ll, 1934 2,013,903 Thaheld Sept..10, 19.35 2,119,252 Thaheld May 31, 19.38 2,144,997 Thaheld Jan. 24:',` 1939 2,360,577 Parrish Oct` 17, 1944 

